{
  "id": 17597492,
  "title": "Melaka polls: Candidates advised to respect media practitioners, says Fahmi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/melaka-polls-candidates-advised-to-respect-media-practitioners-says",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-01T12:11:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/11/1568494/melaka-polls-candidates-advised-respect-media-practitioners-says-fahmi"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent statement in Melaka, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil advised candidates participating in the state's election to treat media practitioners with respect and acknowledge their importance during the campaign period. Fahmi emphasized that if media practitioners encounter any uncomfortable situations, they should promptly report them to the police. Additionally, he encouraged media practitioners to lodge complaints with the Malaysian Media Council if their content is plagiarized or used without permission, stating that the council should be informed to prevent unauthorized use of information or content.\n\nFahmi addressed the media after visiting the Communications Ministry's media centre in Ayer Keroh, where he was joined by Communications Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah and Information Department Director-General Erwin Khairul Ahmad. The Melaka election officially commenced yesterday with candidate nominations, and early voting is set for November 10. Polling is scheduled for November 14, following the dissolution of the state legislative assembly on September 23.\n\nTo support media practitioners during the election, Fahmi revealed that there are 39 National Information Dissemination Centres across Melaka designated as media centres. These centers not only facilitate media practitioners but also serve as resting spots between assignments, allowing them to recharge before moving on to their next locations. Fahmi also announced the establishment of a Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) complaints counter specifically for media practitioners who face internet connectivity issues while on duty. He urged media professionals to download the MCMC Nexus application, which can help report any \"blind spots\" in Melaka that may hinder their reporting.\n\nFahmi concluded his statement by inviting media practitioners to contribute to the identification of any areas in Melaka that may not be adequately covered by media outlets, encouraging them to share this information through the MCMC Nexus application.",
  "summary": "MELAKA: Candidates contesting in the Melaka election have been advised to respect and appreciate the presence of media practitioners throughout the campaign period, said Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}